System and method for normalizing standardized uptake values in brain positron emission tomography (PET) images

A Positron Emission Tomography (PET) image system, comprising:

• an imaging device configured to detect radioactive emissions from a patient for a predetermined period of time, the device further configured to generate PET data based on the detected radioactive emissions;
• a memory storage device configured to store the PET data;
• and
• a processing arrangement configured to localize the PET data with at least one image mask to generate localized PET data, the PET data be co-registered to correspond to anatomical structures represented by the image mask, the processing arrangement further configured to generate a set of image intensity values (Ps) based on the localized PET data for voxels within a selected region of interest (ROI), each of the image intensity values corresponding to an intensity of the PET data for a corresponding one of the voxels, normalize the set of image intensity values (Ps) by generating a set of normalized values (Ns) where each corresponding N for each P is obtained using the formula:
• N=(P−M)/S, wherein M corresponds to a peak value for the set of image intensity values (Ps), and S corresponds to a spread for the set of image intensity values (Ps), and the processing arrangement further configured to generate a normalized PET image based on the set of normalized values (Ns).